Saturday Jan 21

Hello everyone!!

Sorry it has taken me more than a day to write another post, it took a while to set up my email and stuff...but it's all set up! YAY! The way it works is I get unlimited email for my semester at sea email address and 200 minutes of internet for the whole voyage...thanks to my tech-savy brother I organized my blog so that I can email posts! (YAY AGAIN!)

The first day I boarded the ship my experience was a combination of thinking I brought too much stuff, I brought too little stuff, who are ALL these people, and OMG OMG OMG OMG! It was an overwhelming day to say the least, but things are thankfully starting to calm down. The first night we were aboard the ship we were told that 10 students planned to join this voyage, for whatever reason, were unable to receive their Brazil visas...Brazil doesn't allow anyone without a Brazilian visa to even enter Brazilian waters, so these students were devastated, thinking that they might have to turn around and go back to their home university or college. Another issue is that the ship was leaving from  Nassau, Bahamas, so without their passports, they could not even get to the ship. By the first night I got a really good taste of what this community is about, our dean came and introduced himself and immediately told us of these students' situations. He informed us that they were doing everything they could and that the students were all at a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale FL so that they could get to the Bahamas as SOON as possible. Then, our Dean grabbed his cell phone put it up to the mic and we all heard the 10 students yell into the phone "WAIT FOR US!" to which we all responded, "WE WILL!!!". It blew me away how concerned everyone was for these 10 people, 10 people who hadn't even "officially" joined this community yet were already so important. Our Dean then informed us that we would be delaying our departure for one day so that we may get our 10 missing community members. He then finished off with "This is going to be an epic voyage." (remember this for later)

A day later the 10 students weren't in the Bahamas YET...so we were informed that we would be leaving the Bahamas  at 12pm (in order to open up the port to another ship) and returning at 5 pm to get our missing students. So we sailed around for a few hours, had lots of orientation stuff during that time and at 5pm we heard an announcement on the ship "Everyone please go to the 5th and 6th outdoor decks". We all got outside and looked out at the dark port wondering "ummm...where are they". Then a spot light from the ship shined on 10, exhausted and yet smiling people, with their bags and everything. At that moment the ship erupted in cheers and welcoming waves and our community was no longer incomplete. That night we had another ship-wide meeting and our Dean said "I think we are the only Semester At Sea Voyage to have ever left the Bahamas TWICE...I TOLD YOU THIS VOYAGE WOULD BE EPIC!"

Today was the first day of classes. It feels like freshman year again a bit, the first day without classes was fun and all, but everyone was ready to have "stuff to do" and a "schedule". I enjoyed my classes a lot and am really starting to already feel at home in my new home.

We lost a day so in order to make up time the ship is moving at a lot faster of a pace than normal... meaning that we are rocking back and forth more than usual....needless to say I haven't gained my "sea legs" just yet. I've learned that fortunately I don't get sea-sick, I just join the rest of the student body in looking like we are still back at our home universities, went out for the night, drank too much and forgot how to walk. It is such a funny feeling, such a basic thing like walking around I feel like I have to re-learn.

Everyone here is SO friendly, I've met so many awesome, interesting people. I've also already shared a meal with one of our "Life-long learners" (these are adults...some retired, some not, that join the voyage) and signed up for things like zumba, yoga, tutoring the kids on the ship, getting an extended family with either a life long learner or professor, Shabbat dinner club...and more. I've never been in a community like this before, I walk around the ship and am beginning to recognize many familiar faces, the unfamiliar ones never look away, they look right at me and join me in saying hello. Meals and hanging out are not an issue, you can literally walk up to any group and say hi and sit down and they are happy to learn about you. This is a truly unique experience and it's only just begun.

I miss everyone at home lots and will be writing more frequently, I promise...so keep checking!

Love,

Steph